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Gripes come rolling in
Aged Care Complaints Commissioner has had no shortage of work so far .
The public kept the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner busy in its first six months .
The commissioner ’ s annual report , released in early October , stated that more than 5000 people contacted the office with concerns between January 1 and June 30 of this year .
About 1600 complaints were related to matters outside the commissioner ’ s function , including concerns about state-regulated retirement villages . But more than 2100 formal complaints were lodged , most from concerned family and friends of people in residential aged care .
Topics ranged from the dignity of the person in care to behaviour and lack of training , skills and qualifications of staff .
This was an 11 per cent jump from the 1900 complaints in the first half of 2015 , when the Department of Health was responsible for handling them .
“ This may be due to the transition to an independent commissioner and the public becoming more aware of the office and the support we can offer ,” the annual report stated .
Staff made 49 site visits as part of their investigations , including 14 unannounced .
Complaints Commissioner Rae Lamb made 231 referrals to external organisations , including more than 120 to the Aged Care Quality Agency , the independent body responsible for supervising aged-care homes funded by government . Most of those referrals regarded concerns about qualifications and training of staff , food , care and infections .
Health minister Sussan Ley said the overall percentage of complaints remained low .
“ The report shows people – consumers , family , carers and loved ones – are speaking up when it comes to concerns about their aged-care services , and this is a good thing ,” Ley said . ■
With AAP .
Please see “ Vital independent streak ”, p12 .
Warning against aged-care cuts
Provider predicts strains on public hospitals from residential facilities that lack the resources to take on discharged patients .
Funding cuts in the sector may force residential aged-care service providers to reconsider admitting older people ready to be discharged from hospitals , increasing pressure on the public system , a provider has said .
In a letter to state and territory premiers and health ministers , UnitingCare Australia warned about the impact cuts will have on
public hospitals and asked for their help in restoring funding .
The letter stated : “ In the 2016 – 17 Budget , the Australian Government announced the removal of $ 1.2 billion over four years from the Complex Health Care element of the Aged Care Funding Instrument . This is on top of the $ 750 million cut announced in December 2015 . The complex health care element funds what are considered ‘ high care needs ’, where care is provided by registered and enrolled nurses and allied health professionals .”
It also spelled out the findings from some Ansell Strategic modelling , which showed most aged-care providers would be forced to review admission policies for people with high needs , including those being discharged from hospital .
“ UnitingCare Australia believes the cuts will result in frail older people remaining in hospital longer than medically necessary as availability of suitable aged-care places is reduced ,” the letter read . “ End of life care may in future be available only in hospitals and hospices .”
Chair of UnitingCare Australia ’ s Aged Care Network , Steve Teulan , said the cuts will shift the budget burden of caring for vulnerable sick older people from aged-care facilities to hospitals .
“ Many of our residents within the UnitingCare Aged Care Network are frail older people discharged from hospital ,” he said . “ We would never seek to turn away a person needing care , but Federal Government cuts will have a negative impact on the health of older people , the public hospital system and the health system as a whole .” ■
2 agedcareinsite . com . au